Device for immobilizing limb of patient

Abstract

Device for immobilizing a patient's limb. The device comprises an elongated, three-sided, resilient support member of generally U-shaped cross-section, open at the top and comprising a base or bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from the base, and fastener means extending from one side wall to the other across the open top of the support member. The support member is preferably made of a closed cell plastic foam material, coated with a thin adherent washable coating. The side walls are preferably perpendicular to the base, defining an opening of rectangular cross-section for receiving a patient's limb or portion thereof. Fastener means may include either a plurality of transversely extending straps (preferably Velcro) or a plastic sheet having means (such as short Velcro strips) which will engage the side walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for immobilizing a limb of a patient, said device being resilient and comprising: (a) a longitudinally extending resilient elongated three-sided support member comprising a resilient core and a thin adherent waterproof, washable coating thereon, said support member being of generally U-shaped cross section, and straight in the longitudinal direction, said support member comprising a bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposite side edges of said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said side walls each being essentially rectangular in shape and of substantially uniform thickness and having planar outside surfaces and planar inside surfaces, said support member being open at the top; and   (b) fastener means including a member adapted to be removably attached to said upwardly extending sides and to extend across the open top of said support member.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 in which said fastener means comprise a plurality of transversly extending Velcro straps extending from one of said side walls to the other across the open top of the support member. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1 in which said fastener means comprises a thin flexible plastic sheet having Velcro fastener elements thereon. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 1 in which the core of said support member is made of a resilient plastic foam material. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 4 in which said plastic foam material is a closed cell plastic foam material. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 1 in which said side walls intersect said bottom wall at right angles.